Disappointment continues to be something that Blue Jackets fans are overly familiar with. And while it should not be this way year after year, Columbus fans have grown accustomed to the “over-promise” and “under-delivery” model that the Blue Jackets' organization continues to put forth.

When the free agent market opened just after this year’s draft, Blue Jackets fans were excited, as it appeared the team might have Stanley Cup contender potential with a few solid signings.

While many of the other teams participated in the fireworks, the Jackets' management basically sat on the side lines and ho-hum signed or re-signed Curtis Glencross, Joakim Lindstrom, Andrew Murray, Steve Goertzen, Derek MacKenzie, Sheldon Brookbank, Dan Smith, Ole-Kristian Tollefsen, Alexander Svitov, and Jan Hejda.

Okay, Ole-Kristian Tollefsen and Alexander Svitov needed to be resigned, but if this is the best that new Jackets GM Scott Howson can put together, Blue Jackets fans are likely in for another long and disappointing season.

Until Howson does something eventful that turns out “right” for the Blue Jackets, he will always be known as one of the guys in Edmonton who let Ryan Smith walk away. While it has been said that Howson understands the salary cap and knows how to work with a small-market team, I am not sure that his conservative style is going to set the fans on fire in Columbus.

This is a GM that looks uncomfortable every time he has to speak to the media and does not seem to grasp the fans’ desperate “we need to win now” point of view – the very philosophy that must occur to get the disappointed Jackets fans excited, ready to believe in their team again and back into the arena seats again.

It’s simple: fans pay for the tickets and the ticket sales support the Blue Jackets organization and the team. Howson needs to get more ‘fan’ and Columbus community-friendly, since these are the people who are going to make or break the team’s popularity.

To be fair, we don’t know the particulars of any deals that Howson has been trying to make. He is not going to go on the record and provide an accounting of the deals that he tried to make that fell apart. However, if you listen to the murmur from other GMs in the NHL, it appears that player deals are getting harder and harder to put together. As far as the Columbus fans know, the Blue Jackets are not in any salary cap trouble and the organization does have funds to spend.

The problem is that all of the really top players are already taken. Unfortunately, most of the players remaining are “bargain basement players who have never achieved at the NHL level,” “older players who tend to be plagued by injuries,” or “risk players who usually have some significant amount of ‘baggage’ attached to them.” From the looks of it, Columbus does not have a lot of options, not unless they want to start talking “player trade;” and, with some of the assets that the team has, a player trade might be a better way to proceed.

At this point, it appears as though the Jackets might still be talking to at least eight UFAs. Granted, these are only rumors, but let’s take a look at these players and consider whether any of them might address some of the team shortcomings...

Andy Sutton – Sutton was with the Thrashers in Atlanta last season, where he scored 16 points in 55 games. He is a big defenseman with a strong shot from the point. While he lacks consistency and shows signs of problems with lateral movement, he can shut down forwards going to the net. He might be a good fit in Columbus if the price is right, but don’t expect him to quarterback the power play or to contend for the scoring title. He has bounced around the NHL a lot and might fit into the class of “underachiever,” but he might also be just the kind of player that Columbus needs to provide the brawn and “bruiser” element that could propel the Blue Jackets into the playoff race.

Eric Lindros – A lot has been written about Eric Lindros over the years, throughout a career that has had more ups and downs than "Space Mountain." He had superstar potential earlier on, even winning the Hart Trophy as league MVP, but serious concussion and injury problems have derailed him over the years. When he is “on,” he is “on.” Lindros still owns an incredible shot and is a significant threat when he gets in front of the net. His skating skills are still good for a guy of his size, but the fact that he tends to skate with his head down, even after all of the serious head injuries, has continued to put him in serious jeopardy. While he does not possess the best “hockey sense,” he still can get the job done when he is healthy. Signing Lindros at this stage in his career would be a big risk for Columbus, and while it would be a “flashy” signing that would get the fans’ attention, the money might be better spent on someone else. All things considered, Columbus should probably pass on Lindros and let Calgary, who seems to be in the lead for his services, take the risk on him.

David Aebischer – Aebischer was set to be the next Patrick Roy in Colorado, but it is funny how things work out in the NHL. Aebischer had a couple of very good seasons, but he has lacked the consistency necessary for a full time spot in the NHL. If Columbus is going to spend money to sign a goaltender, then it should be a goaltender with a proven track record, which makes Aebischer a ‘pass’ for the Blue Jackets.

Brian Boucher – Brian was claimed off waivers by Columbus at one point, so he has had a tour of duty here in Columbus. While he has looked good at times, he continues to be plagued by confidence problems. He could be a potential backup here in Columbus, but unless he gets hot, he would not be a contender for the starting job. Better options are available at attractive prices.

Sean Burke – Sean Burke is a great goaltender for a big man. Still, his size limits the quick mobility that is required in today’s fast paced NHL game, and he also has a history of groin problems. However, he could offer veteran mentoring and leadership skills that could help a younger goaltender like Pascal LeClaire. Unfortunately, Burke isn’t a good solution for a team like Columbus, that doesn't have a defined number one goaltender.

Jussi Markkanen – Markkanen is a solid backup goaltender who--like Burke--could be helpful in Columbus if there already were an established number one starter. While Markkanen has struggled with consistency over the years, he has proven that he can be solid in clutch situations. The time and fit just doesn’t seem right for Markkanen in Columbus currently, but it would almost be a shame to pass on him if a good deal could be made to add him to the Jackets roster.

Ossi Vaananen – If Columbus isn’t in the running to sign Vaananen, then they should be. Vaanane likes to take the body, but is responsible enough to know when it is time to play solid positional defense. In 74 games with the Colorado Avalanche last season he scored only had 8 points, but earned a plus-six rating. In the right kind of system--and with the right defense partner--Vaananen could be a huge help to Columbus. He has had some injury issues over the years, and does not have the big offensive upside that teams are normally looking for, but he could be an attractive fit on the Blue Jackets' defense corps. If the price is reasonable, the Blue Jackets should try to sign him.

Ty Conklin – Conklin is another goaltender with a history in Columbus. He rode the pine here as a backup before being traded to Buffalo. He delivered some impressive performances during his time in Columbus, but it's unclear what role he would play with LeClaire and Fredrik Norrena currently here. As things stand today, Norrena should have the number one job, as he played most of last season while LeClaire was hurt. Conklin might be a good solution if Norrena gets the number one job and the Blue Jackets are looking strictly for a backup goaltender; otherwise, there just is “no room at the inn.”

The list above doesn’t have a lot of pizzazz. Other than Eric Lindros, most Blue Jackets fans have not even heard of the majority of these players. This doesn’t mean these guys don’t have potential or that they aren’t talented players. But in order to keep the fan base, the Jackets desperately need some wins. The team needs to have the potential to make the playoffs. The fans need hope. Last season was beyond disappointing. It was dreadful, and fan attendance dropped off dramatically as the losses mounted.

The Blue Jackets management knows that they need help on defense and in goal, and most analysts agree that the team's weaknesses lie in these areas. Of course, all the defense in the world isn’t going to help if they can’t put the puck in the net. But even that being the case, the defense must be the top priority.

Several other options also remain, including Danny Markov, Jason Allison, Robert Esche, Jeff Friesen, Darren McCarty, Curtis Joseph, and Peter Nedved. Yes, some of these players likely cost a lot more than the other players mentioned earlier, but with a few clever moves and some cap management it might be possible to bring some of this talent to Columbus.

No matter what happens, Columbus missed out on the chance to sign a top notch defensemen or a goaltender by not being able to get a deal done at the time of the draft. In the end, this could prove to be a serious miscalculation on Howson’s part. Fans don’t want more of the same; they want a chance to contend. It just seems that the Blue Jackets are still missing some key pieces of the puzzle, and so far Howson has done nothing publicly to get the team pointed in the right direction by bringing in new talent. Without trying to move some personnel around or signing a significant player or two, Columbus fans may be in for more disappointment this coming season. Let’s hope this is not the case.